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(No Model.)

' E. E. SWETT.

APPARATUS FOR BLOWING FOG HORNS; 8w.

" No. 280,686.. Patented July 3, 1883.

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EDWARD 13. SWETT, or BIDDEEORD, MAINE.

APPARATUS FOR BLOWlNG FOG-HORNS, 80C.

S1?ECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,686, dated July 3, 1883.

Application filed March 6, 1883. (N model.)

My invention relates to that class of apparatus for blowing a fog horn or whistle which includes a pipe or trunk extending from a point above the water-line ofa vessel when loaded to a point inthe bottom of the hull which is considerably below the water-line when light. The said pipe or trunk has a fog horn'or whistle connected with it, and is provided with suitable valves, so 'that by the rising motion of the vessel the external air will be drawn into the pipe or trunk, and by the falling motion of the vessel the air in the pipe or trunk will be compressed sufficiently to cause it to sound the horn or whistle.

My presentinvention consists in a novel combination, with the pipe or trunk and horn or whistle, of a reservoir or receiver interposed between them, and into which the compressed air is discharged from the pipe or trunk at each falling motion of the vessel, and from which the compressed air may be supplied to the horn or whistle continuously for a considerable time, or at any desired intervals. Where the horn or whistle is connected directly with the pipe or trunk, a blast of the horn or whistle necessarily follows each falling motion of the vessel,whethe'r the air compressed thereby be little or much; but by interposing the air reservoir or receiverbetween the horn or whistle and the pipe or trunk I am enabled to stop the sounding of the horn or whistle and store up a great quantity of air at a very high pressure in the reservoir or receiver, so that the whistle or horn .may be operated at long or short intervals, or continuously, for a considerable time, and so that the horn or whistle maybe caused to sound very loudly, and thereforemore effectively.

My invention also includes a novel combination, with the pipe or trunk, reservoir or receiver, and horn or whistle, of a suitable coupling and valves, hereinafter described, which provide for removing the horn or whistle and its pipe when desired, so that it will not be in.

the way, and which enable a supply of air to be maintained under pressure in the reservoir or receiver, so that the horn or whistle can be sounded powerfully immediately on connecting it again with the reservoir or receiver.

The accompanying drawing is a side view, partly in "section, of a vessel embodying my invention. J

A designates the main deck, andBthe keel, of the vessel.

0 designates a'pipe or trunk, (here shown as arranged at or near the center-line of the vessel, and having its lower end opening through the bottom of the hull at the side of the keel.) This pipe or trunk is here shown as conical or upwardly tapering, and extends to a point above the water-line, (indicated by the line a.) It may be made of wood or iron, and of circular or square transverse section, or of oblong form, with its major diameterextending lengthwise of the vessel. It is arranged as far forward as possible; or it may, if desired, be arranged at the stern. As its outer or lower end is open, the water will of course rise in it to the same level as outside the vessel. In the upper portion of the pipe or trunk C are in wardly-opening or air-inlet valves b,which permit the air, to enter the pipe or trunk, but prevent its escape therefrom.

D designates an air-tight reservoir or receiver,which is made of pl ate-iron or other suitable material, and of cylindric or other shape. It is connected with the pipe or trunk G by a valve, 0, which will open to permit air to pass from the pipe or trunk to the reservoir or receiver, but will prevent air from passing in the opposite direction. In large vessels the reservoir or receiver D is or may be arranged under the top-gallant forecastle; but in smaller craft it may be arranged under the main deck A.

' From the reservoir or receiver D an air-pipe, E, extends upward, and is surmounted by a fog horn or whistle, F. The pipe E may have in it a union or coupling, (1, to provide for removing out of the way the portion of the pipe i'which projects above the deck and the whis tle when it is not desired to use them.

In the pipe E is a throttlevalve or cock, e,which may be closed to hold the compressed air in the reservoir or receiver.

As the ship or vessel rolls or pitches in a seaway, the rising and falling of the vessel causes the water-level in the pipe or trunk to rise and IOO tall. As the water-levelv falls, air is drawn into the pipe or trunk through the airinletvalves I), and as the said waterlevel rises the air in the pipe or trunk is compressed and forced through the valve 0 into the reservoir 01' re cei ver .1), and when the whistle-valvefis opened the whistle will be sounded. \Vhen the union or coupling (1 is undone to remove the whistle, the valve 0 may be closed, so as to retain a store of compressed air in the reservoir or re eeiver D, thus enabling the whistle or hornto be sounded at once after itis placed in position.

By my invention I, am enabled to compress air by the rising and falling motion of the vessel and provide for working a fog horn or whistle without the expenditure ofany other power.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Thecombination,with aship or other navigable vessel, oi'a pipe ortrunk extending, from a point above the water-1inewhen loaded, to and I through the bottom of the hull, air inlet and outlet valves at the upper part of the pipe or trunk, a reservoir or receiver to which compressed air is delivered at each falling motion of the vessel, and wherein the compressed air is stored, and a fog horn or whistle connected with said reservoir or receiver and operated by compressed air therefrom, substantially as herein described.

The combination, with the vessel, of the pipe or trunk G, the inlet air-valves b, the reservoir or receiver D for compressed air, located below the deck A, the outlet-valve c, the pipe E, provided with the union o1 coupling (1, and with the throttle valve or cock (.2 below said union or coupling, and the fog horn or whistle F, all substantially as specified.

EDWARD E. SVVETT.

'Wituesses:

W. V. SWAN, S. K. H'r'ronmos. 

